The Washington Commanders are currently among the favorites to land star pass-rusher Myles Garrett from the Cleveland Browns. That's how far this team has come in a short timeframe.
After going 12-5 and making the NFC Championship game, the Commanders figure to be extremely aggressive this offseason in putting a Super Bowl-caliber roster around franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels. However, they must be careful about what they're willing to give up.
Garrett isn't the type of player who often becomes available in trade talks. He was the 2023 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and has been a four-time first-team All-Pro. He's also still only 29 years old, with likely several more seasons of high-end production ahead of him provided injuries don't become an issue.
Suffice it to say, the haul Cleveland is going to demand in return is sure to be a large one — and may consist of more than just draft picks.
That is where the Commanders, and all other suitors, must be careful.
Commanders cannot give up important players in Myles Garrett trade
If Washington's goal is to add Garrett to its existing core in hopes of elevating those around him, then acquiring him shouldn't involve giving up other players who are helping the team now.
Draft picks can be considered expendable. They are not yet proven commodities. The Los Angeles Rams built a Super Bowl-winning team by repeatedly mortgaging their future for players who could help them win in the present. In doing so, they proved how overvalued draft selections are.
A pick may or may not pan out. By trading it for an established valuable player, you are turning it into a much greater chance of a positive return on investment.
The Commanders should be well aware of the dangers that come with giving up players in these blockbuster deals. When Washington acquired Alex Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018, it sent away Kendall Fuller. The promising young cornerback became a key piece on their first Super Bowl-winning team in 2019, before eventually returning to D.C. as a free agent in 2020.
The Smith trade ended up being a disaster for Washington, largely because of the veteran quarterback's devastating leg injury less than a season into his time with the franchise. It also failed because giving up Fuller made the team around the signal-caller weaker.
The Commanders shouldn't make this same mistake again. If Washington is to acquire Garrett, it must find a way to do so without giving up any proven assets.
The last thing the Commanders want to do is to fill one roster need, just to create new ones.